A new study by sleep researchers has found that passengers on long car journeys should make an effort to stay awake. If the passenger falls asleep, the driver is likely to become tired quickly, often with fatal consequences. Jürgen Zulley, a sleep researcher and professor of biological psychology at the University of Regensburg, warns passengers against sleeping on long car journeys. “The risk of falling asleep at the wheel and having an accident is significantly higher with a sleeping passenger than with an awake one who keeps the driver entertained,” says Zulley. It is not yet clear why the sleep of the passenger is contagious to the driver, but it is generally believed that the quiet and steady breathing, as well as the stillness of the passenger, have a calming and relaxing effect on the driver.
A sleeping passenger combined with long and monotonous car journeys at night exacerbates the contagious tiredness. The German Road Safety Council estimates that around one in four fatal accidents on the motorway is caused by microsleep. If the driver nods off for a moment and then wakes up suddenly, it is almost impossible to keep the vehicle in the lane. Numerous sleep researchers from a total of 19 European countries warned of the dangerous microsleep at the wheel last year with the Wake up in Brussels campaign. Of the 13,000 study participants, 42 percent reported having fallen asleep behind the wheel for a brief moment.
Zulley adds that one’s own body language gives many signs of fatigue. Frequent yawning, heavy eyelids, and decreasing concentration are clear signals that one is about to fall asleep. In such cases, short breaks in which one stretches one’s legs or does light exercise can help. Driving with open windows can also be helpful. In cases of extreme fatigue, one should drive to a rest area and sleep for a few minutes. It is important to emphasize the importance of staying awake and alert on long car journeys to prevent accidents and save lives.
